BJP hits back with own Privilege Motion against Jyotiraditya Scindia

After Congress and some other opposition parties decided to bring in a Privilege Motion against the Union HRD Minister, Smriti Irani, the BJP too has hit back by pressing for similar action against Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia.

However, now the BJP Chief Whip, Arjun Ram Meghwal, has accused Scindia for ‘defamatory’ remarks against a central government minister Bandaru Dattatreya.

According to PTI news, BJP’s Chief Whip Arjun Ram Meghwal accused Scindia of “misleading” the House on 24 February by alleging that Dattatreya had called Rohith Vemula, a Dalit student of Hyderabad University who committed suicide, “anti-national, casteist and extremist”.

Meghwal said he and many other members, including Dattatreya, had given a notice of breach of privilege against Scindia.

He raised the issue amid uproarious scenes in the House as AIADMK members were demanding action against former Union Minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis issue.

At this, Congress members too rushed to the Well, demanding that the Speaker decide on their privilege motion.

Dattatreya accused Scindia of “defaming him and tarnishing” his image by attributing such comments to him that he never made about Vemula.

“My mother used to sell onions. I have always worked for OBCs, Dalits… I have made sacrifices for Dalits,” he said, recalling his humble background and work for the downtrodden.

He said his letter to Irani, over which he has been attacked by Congress, made no mention of Vemula’s name. “I never made such charge against him.”